Specs2.doc

HEMLOCK WOOLLY ADELGID TREATMENT FY 2010

DIVISION 100 - GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

110 - Scope of Contract The purpose of this contract is to perform insecticide treatments on hemlock trees in order to ensure their ability to survive infestation by the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). The contract areas are located in developed recreation sites on the Chattahoochee National Forest (see three attached vicinity maps). The contractor will be required to inject HWA-infested trees with Imidacloprid insecticide (soil injection only). Trees designated for treatment have a small metal tag attached to them. These tags have an Identification Number on them. The contractor will be provided a list of each tag number in a recreation area. The contractor will then identify the tree, measure and record the trees diameter at diameter breast height (DBH) (4.5’ above the ground) and then treat the tree according to insecticide labeling and the dosing instructions provided (attached). The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will provide the contractor with soil moisture condition before treatments begin. Once a tree has been treated the contractor will then either mark the tag with a punch or marker. Upon completion of the work the contractor will provide the Contracting Officer’s Representative with the list of trees treated (tag number) in each recreation area along with their DBH measurements and date treated.

Treatments will occur on Mondays through Thursdays from approximately mid February 2010 through the end of May, 2010. Treatments will not occur if the ground is frozen, excessively wet or excessively dry.

Contractor shall furnish all labor, transportation, supervision, and perform all work necessary to treat the infested hemlock trees.

120 - Description and Location The contract areas consist of 29 locations with variable heights and diameters of hemlock trees. The sites are located on the Conasauga, Blue Ridge and Chattooga River Ranger Districts in Northern Georgia on the Chattahoochee National Forest (see attached maps). The following tables list the numbers of trees and inches to be treated by the soil injection method.

Soil Injection Method

Conasauga Ranger District

Blue Ridge Ranger District

Chattooga River Ranger District

The terrain is gentle to moderate. Hazards may be (but are not limited to) bee stings, snake bites, and limited exposure to insecticide or insecticidal solution.

130 - Government-Furnished Property

The Government shall deliver to the contractor the following listed material, supplies, and property (hereinafter referred to as "Government-furnished property") at the place and time specified below. The contractor shall be liable for all loss or damage of such delivered Government-furnished property until completion and final acceptance of work required under this contract. If the Government fails to make timely delivery of such Government- furnished property suitable for its intended use, and upon written request from the contractor, the Contracting Officer shall make an equitable adjustment of contract delivery or performance dates or contract price, or both, pursuant to the "Changes" clause of the General Provisions of this contract.

Insecticide – All insecticide will be furnished by the Forest Service. The insecticide is in powder form and packaged in 1.6-oz. packages. Insecticide may be picked up between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, excluding federal legal holidays. It is expected that the contractor will pick up enough insecticide for a week’s worth of work.

Contractor shall be responsible for transporting insecticide from the following storage sites at each district, Conasauga Ranger District

3941 HWY 76

Chatsworth, GA 30705

Blue Ridge Ranger District Workcenter

4522 HWY 515 E

Blairsville, GA 30512

Chattooga River Ranger District 9975 Hwy. 441 South

Lakemont, GA 30552 to the contract areas, mixing the insecticide with water, and returning empty, unopened or partially used containers to the storage site. For the purpose of this Clause 130, insecticide shall be considered delivered by the Government upon contractor's loading on his vehicle for transporting to the contract area. During transport, insecticide and application equipment must be secured to prevent tipping or excess jarring and must be carried in a part of the vehicle totally isolated from people, food, or clothing.

Insecticide Signs- The Forest Service will provide signs for the contractor to post in recreation areas prior to insecticide treatments. The sign will inform the public that insecticides are being used in the area.

Spill Plan- The Forest Service will provide a spill plan to the contractor. The plan will provide information on procedures and point of contacts in case of a spill.

140 - Contractor-Furnished Items

Contractor must have a vehicle spill kit, consisting of the items listed on the attached PESTICIDE SPILL KIT CONTENTS, in their vehicle at all times while insecticide is being loaded, transported, or used. Contractor must have and properly use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), as detailed by the insecticide labels.

Insecticide Injectors- The Contractor will provide a Kioritz Soil Injector.

Miscellaneous Supplies- The Contractor will provide plastic gloves as personal protective equipment (PPE) and 2 carboy containers for mixing of insecticidal solution.

150 - License Requirements

The contractor will comply with State of Georgia regulations for licensing of commercial pesticide applicators. Contractor will be required to show their license to COR prior to beginning work.

Contractor will be responsible for full compliance with all applicable provisions of the EPA Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS), 40 CFR Part 170.

160 - Access Trees are within developed recreation areas and associated trails. All locations are accessible by vehicle although trees will need to be accessed by walking from the recreation area parking lot. Additional guidelines will be provided by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).

DIVISION 200 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

210 - Work to be Performed For all Areas, the contractor shall properly treat the designated trees with insecticide as directed by the COR in accordance with these specifications.

211 – Soil Injection Method This method is for treating all the trees in this contract. Imidacloprid insecticide will be used. The contractor will be responsible for mixing the insecticidal solution on the job site. Contractor shall follow all label directions for mixing of insecticide. The carboy will be sealed, then it will be shaken vigorously to mix the suspension.

Trees to be treated are marked with a small metal tag. The contractor shall, before beginning any treatment, calibrate the soil injector using water to determine how many ounces of solution are delivered with each handpush on the injector handle.

The contractor will inject the soil around the designated trees with solution using the Soil Injector. The point of injection will be according to label directions and will be approximately 2-5 inches below the soil surface. After determining each tree’s diameter at breast height (dbh), the contractor will derive the number of ounces of solution to inject into the ground using the attached dosing guidelines. For each tree, the injector will be used at several (minimum of four) points around the tree to evenly space the required number of ounces into the soil around the tree. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will provide the contractor with soil moisture condition before treatments begin. After injecting the ground at each tree, the contractor will mark or punch the metal tag with the tree diameter and date of treatment. The contractor will provide a written list of each tree treated using its corresponding tag number, diameter and date treated to the COR.

Because the trees to be treated are at a developed recreation sites, the contractor may treat infested trees only on Monday through Thursdays. The contractor will, before treating any trees in the developed recreation site post a pesticide use sign provided by the Forest. If a campsite has trees designated for treatment and the site is occupied, the contractor will notify the COR, who will work with him and the campsite occupants to schedule a time for treatment of that site.

Treatments will occur from approximately mid-February 2010 through the end of May 2010. Treatments will not occur if the ground is frozen, excessively wet or excessively dry.

220 - Vegetation not to be Treated

1. Any tree not designated by a metal tag or otherwise designated as described above by the COR.

2. Trees marked with paint or ribbons that designate property lines and corner witness trees.

231 - Safety Contractor shall provide for and maintain safe working conditions at all times, including following the tool manufacturer's recommended operation and safety equipment specifications. Safety equipment includes, but is not limited to: long-sleeved shirt, gloves, safety glasses, and all other personal protective equipment (PPE) listed on the insecticide labels. All pertinent OSHA Safety regulations and standards apply to this contract.

241 - Protection of Trees

The contractor shall use every precaution necessary to prevent spillage of insecticidal solution or insecticide on trees not designated to be treated.

242 - Stream, Lake and Reservoir Pollution Prevention

During the handling, transporting and use of the herbicide, contractor will use every precaution necessary to prevent pollution of any streams, lakes, reservoirs, or standing water with insecticide, insecticidal solution, or other harmful materials. Herbicide mixing, loading, or cleaning areas in the field will not be located within 200 feet of private land, open water or wells, or other sensitive areas. Mixing and cleaning water must come from a public water supply and be transported in separate labeled containers. Under no circumstances will injectors, containers, or other contaminated materials be washed in any stream, lake or reservoir. Violations are punishable under 36 CFR 261.11(c), and are subject to fine of not more than $500.00 or imprisonment for not more than 6 months or both.

243 - Spill Protection

Contractor will use every precaution necessary to prevent herbicide spillage in loading, transporting, pouring, and applying the herbicide. The contractor will at all times have available in vehicles transporting herbicide a spill kit (attached) and a copy of the EMERGENCY SPILL PLAN provided by the Forest. If a spill occurs, contractor will immediately contain the spill, use the absorbant material to absorb it, and seal the material in the polyethylene bags. Contractor will notify the COR of any spill immediately after following the above procedures. Contractor will deliver the material in the polyethylene bags to the pick-up point.

244 - Protection of Improvements

The contractor shall protect all trails, roads, ditches, fences, campsites, picnic sites, horse stalls, interpretive signs, bulletin boards, restrooms and showers, and other improvements in the project area.

Access guidelines will be provided by the COR. Any road or trail used by the contractor that is damaged by his operations shall be promptly repaired by him.

245 - Protection of Archaeological/Historical Resources The contractor, upon the discovery of suspected archaeological or historical materials, shall cease work in the vicinity of such materials and immediately notify the COR.

246 - Final Clean-Up Before final acceptance all trash, rubbish, and debris generated by contractor's operation shall be removed from National Forest Land.

DIVISION 300 - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

310 - Inspection of Work Performed Inspection of the work performed under this contract shall be made by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or the designated Inspector as the work progresses at such intervals as are necessary to insure compliance with contract specifications.

320 - Completion of Work Upon completion of work on an area, the contractor shall notify the COR that work on the area is completed; the COR shall then make an overall inspection of work quality and compliance with contract specifications. If the work is not accepted by the COR, the contractor shall complete any remedial work required for acceptance. The contractor shall start on the next area only upon agreement by the COR.

DIVISION 400 –BASIS OF PAYMENT

420 - Basis of Payment Payment will be made at the unit bid price for the number of trees treated and accepted.

After a bid item (see Schedule of Bid Items) is completed the contractor may submit an invoice for payment to the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

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